Audi a3 or Hyundai i20

bluedrop

Hi all,

We are planning to buy our first car. We both work in the city so we travel by train. We need a car to take dd for activities, get grocery on the weekends, travel in summer. We want it mainly for convenience. Given that it will stay on the drive most of the time, I want to get a Hyundai i20. I get a 2011 car with 43k miles for 6k on cargiant. It serves our purpose.

On the other hand, dh wants Audi a3. 12k for a 2010 car with 30k miles on it. He justifies it saying why not an Audi or a BMW when we can afford it?

If you were me, what car would you buy and why?

buglawton

Call me presumptuous but it sounds like one half of the partnership wants their sex appeal enhanced by being seen in the Audi. This is Moneysavingexpert where solvency comes first so the answer is obvious - the Hyundai. But kudos to you for having the self confidence to go cheap.

PS I'm a satisfied Hyundai owner for 4 years now.

Netwizard

Since you just need a little runaround that will be sat on the drive most of the time, I wouldn't spend anywhere near £6k let alone £12k for an Audi! Get a little runaround like a fiesta for £2k and bank the rest

daveyjp

We bought an i20 as a second car for about 4,000 miles a year. After 6 months and 2,000 miles we got rid as it was a terrible car to drive.

Get a good test drive in one as even low miles become painful if you don't like the car.

An A3 will be streets ahead, but its twice the price. A Fiesta at i20 money will probably be a better option.

bluedrop

Netwizard wrote: »

Since you just need a little runaround that will be sat on the drive most of the time, I wouldn't spend anywhere near £6k let alone £12k for an Audi! Get a little runaround like a fiesta for £2k and bank the rest

We are looking at 3-4 yr cars. Ford fiesta is 6k on cargiant for this age...

oscarward

Depends on a lot of factors not least model / engine size.

How long do you intend to keep it/ running costs (road tax!) / final value when changing / and fun factor!.

My son has an i20 style, nice car plenty of toys, it's a 1.2 so not exactly a ball of fire but economical and handy round town. Can cart 5 adults without much fuss.

I prefer it to my Jag when nipping to the shops but not for any longer journeys. But having said that he nips up to see his friends about 50 miles away no problem but prefers driving the Jag when he can!

A relative has an Audi S3 absolutely no comparison!

Make a spread sheet factoring everything so there is no surprises and make your decision.

FYI You could buy a brand new fully loaded i20 with 5 years warranty for less than the cost of the s/h audi but may die of boredom in the 5 years before it costs you money.

Your choice......

Ultrasonic

If part of the reason for getting the car is for family holidays, might an i20 not be a little small?

Must admit that when I briefly had an i20 hire car I wasn't too impressed, as it all felt rather flimsy compared to my own car (a Skoda), and the particular engine in it was pretty gutless.

That doesn't mean you have to get an Audi though, there are other options...

bluedrop

Ultrasonic wrote: »

That doesn't mean you have to get an Audi though, there are other options...

Other options like?

londonTiger

if you're both doing well there is no reason to be tight fisted. Buy an a3 - why not an a4. Treat yourself.

silverwhistle

You could consider a Skoda instead of an Audi. I had a L/H/D Fabia which was 12 years old when I got rid of it, but only because I was moving back from abroad and the importation costs didn't make it worthwhile.

I've now got an i20 which suits me fine. I'm going to drive it back to the Alps in a few weeks time and a trip of 50 miles is frankly neither here nor there. I didn't thrash my Fabia when I did the same journey many times and really benefited my petrol consumption, and I shall do the same with the Hyundai. I don't drive a lot, I've got legs, a bicycle and a local station and I don't see much point in having too many thousands of pounds of capital tied up in an object parked outside my house. As for being bored with it, for the money I save I go off-piste skiing or cantering across the downs. I don't associate excitement with driving, and from a safety point of view wish not so many people did!

bluedrop

londonTiger wrote: »

if you're both doing well there is no reason to be tight fisted. Buy an a3 - why not an a4. Treat yourself.

We treated ourselves to a house 6months ago. I'm scared of another big purchase soo soon